In Bossypants, Tina Fey takes us on a hilarious journey through her life and career, from growing up in suburban Pennsylvania to becoming the first female head writer of Saturday Night Live and a television sensation. Fey dives into her hilarious, often poignant, and sometimes uncomfortable anecdotes as she delves into her childhood, her comedy career, and how she navigates life as a woman in the male-dominated world of comedy.
In her early life, Fey reflects on her upbringing in a supportive, albeit slightly traditional, family—desperate not to conform to typical gender roles, Fey, against her mother's wishes, pursues comedy as a career. She recounts how, as a young girl, she felt torn between the roles of "good girl" and "cool girl,” a tension that would later both bring her great successes, and ultimately lead her to self-doubt.
Fey then brings us on an incredibly fun and detailed look at her time on Saturday Night Live, and the faces behind the show, from Chevy Chase to Will Ferrell. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from her time as head writer, and her eventual rise to becoming one of the most recognizable faces on television.
In the second portion of the book, Fey delves into her delightfully tongue-in-cheek take on feminism, and her experiences as a “fake feminist." Here, Fey takes a humorous and often irreverent look at the struggles she faces as a female in the still heavily male-dominated world of comedy. Though she sometimes feels uncomfortable or patronized in her position as a female, Fey refuses to back down when it comes to giving her opinion, and unapologetically speaks her mind.
Fey's style of humorous self-reflection and tongue-in-cheek feminism gives her an instant connection with audiences, which she showcases in Bossypants. Unafraid to show vulnerability, Fey provides a refreshingly honest window into the world of comedy, and the struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated field.
In Bossypants, Fey puts her relatable, often uncomfortable, and always hilarious experiences on full display. The result is an incredibly entertaining look at a woman's rise through the male-dominated world of comedy, and Fey's unique and often entertaining brand of feminism. A must-read for fans, Fey's candid and honest style will have readers eagerly awaiting the next book from this comedic and inspirational icon.
